News

Environmentalists are concerned drilling for new sources of natural gas in Michigan could contaminate water. They're basing that on reports from other states that blame a new method of drilling for contaminating their water.

This new kind of drilling is called horizontal hydraulic fracturing. Until recently in Michigan, it was only used in vertical wells. Drill down, pump water, sand and chemicals at high pressure into a layer of shale, fracture it and release the natural gas trapped there.

Michigan could be seeing the beginning of a new boom in drilling for natural gas. Leases for drilling rights are going for unheard of prices in northern-lower Michigan.

Drilling for natural gas in Michigan is not new. The first natural gas production began in the 1930s according to the Michigan Public Service Commission. Since then we've seen drilling booms come and go.

Next week we'll be airing special, live call-in shows with the candidates running for governor. On Monday, from 9-10AM we'll hear from Democratic candidate Virg Bernero. On Friday, also from 9-10AM, we'll hear from Republican nominee Rick Snyder. Rick Pluta, the Michigan Public Radio Newtork's Lansing Bureau Chief, will host. You can call-in and ask your questions at (877) 952-7870.

Fall officially began on the 22nd. So far we've been treated with the Harvest Moon and warm weather. My kids even broke out the inflatable pool on Wednesday. They splashed around for 5 minutes before they gave up and asked for towels.

ArtPrize opened in Grand Rapids yesterday. The huge art competition runs until October 10th. There are some 1,700 artists competing for this year's prize. As Dustin Dywer reports, just like last year, the winner will be decided by popular vote.

By using U.S. Census data, Eric Fischer has created a map that shows the racial integration of Detroit. As Gawker.com explains, "one dot equals 25 people. The dots are then color-coded based on race: White is pink; Black is blue; Hispanic is orange, and Asian is green." You can find the racial integration of other large U.S. cities here.

Here's an interesting post from FactCheck.org, "candidates have a legal right to lie to voters." It's protected speech. In fact, TV or radio stations running political ads they know to be false, can't refuse to run the ad.

Legislative leaders in Lansing hope they can finalize the state's budget this week. By law the budget must be balanced by October 1st. It looks, as of now, that there are two issues holding up the budget negotiations: temporary amnesty for delinquent taxpayers and an early retirement proposal for state workers.

With two weeks to go before the October 1st budget deadline, lawmakers are fighting over controversial science funding. As Michigan Public Radio's Rick Pluta reports, the budget remains in limbo over a deal on stem cell research funding for the state's 15 public universities.

Republican Dr. Robert Steele is challenging Democratic incumbent John Dingell in this year's election. Congressman Dingell represents Michigan's 15th district and is the longest serving member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Students are saying their classrooms are overcrowded this year. WDIV reports of some advanced placement classes with 60 students in them.

It's like a race to get up there, and if you don't have a seat, you're just standing there for the whole hour. It's just tough. It's hard to see the board because everybody is in the way and I can't really focus on my work.

According to new data released today by the U.S. Census Bureau, 14% of people in Michigan last year lived in poverty. As the Detroit News reports that is, "the highest for the state since it hit 14.1 percent in 1994.'' Nationally, in 2009, the poverty rate was 14.3%. That means 1 in 7 people, or 43.6 million Americans, lived in poverty last year.

A Hell-based car club will try to set a world record for the longest procession of hearses. Just Hearse'N Around will try to set a new Guinness World records mark... Saturday. Club member Steve Frey says to qualify for the record, each of the expected 50-plus hearses must be driven in procession for just over two miles.

The state's medical marijuana law is "inartfully drafted" according to Appellate Court Judge Peter O'Connell. O'Connell was quoted in a Detroit News article saying the law is so confusing that users "who proceed without due caution" could "lose both their property and their liberty."

A new poll released yesterday shows Republican Rick Snyder leading Democrat Virg Bernero in the race for Governor. The EPIC-MRA poll surveyed 600 likely voters. 53% of respondents say they support Snyder, 29% favor Bernero and 15% say they are undecided. The election is November 2nd.

It costs a lot of money for Michigan students to go to college. Tuition is up at nearly every Michigan school, and the $4,000 once awarded to students under the state's Promise Scholarship has been cut. As a result, lots of students have to take out loans or work to pay for school.

Congress held hearings today on the Enbridge oil spill in Michigan. Michigan Radio's Steve Carmody reports that one top official was conspicuously abset from the hearings. Cynthia Quarterman recused herself from the oil spill hearings, because she used to work for Enbridge Energy Partners.

Michigan's jobless rate remained steady from July to August. The state umployment rate was 13.1% The nation's August unemployment rate was 9.6%, up from 9.5% in July. Michigan has the nation's second highest jobless rate. Nevada has the highest.

Officials at Enbridge Energy are testifying before a House panel this afternoon in DC. They're being questioned about their pipeline that broke in July near Marshall, MI and leaked more than 800,000 gallons of oil.